There were some signifcant personnel situations to observe at the Blues’ practice at Scottrade on Monday. For one, dentally-challenged forward Keith Tkachuk was back on the ice, skating full bore. Tkachuk had not skated since scoring the rarest of goals in last week’s loss to Chicago - a goal off his mouth.

After getting hit in the mouth with a slapshot, Tkachuk required numerous anesthetic needles, stitches and root-canal construction work as he suffered four broken toofers, and the total could rise to five downed teeth. Tkachuk was scheduled to see the dentist again after practice on Monday because one of the teeth the doctor was trying to save is giving him fits.

Word has it the Tooth Fairy temporarily has refused service to the Tkachuk household over concerns about handling such a large order.

“It was tough,” Tkachuk said. “It was rough for three or four days there. But it feels better, getting some work done and … what are you going to do?”

Tkachuk added: “I go 18, 19 years without losing any teeth and then I do it pretty much at the end of my career. That’s a little frustrating, but it’s surprise that it didn’t happen sooner.”

Tkachuk called the injury the “worst thing” that has happened to him injury-wise in a career of parking in front of the net. For two days he was unable top eat anything other than protein shakes, and lost weight as a result. He remains in some discomfort, and faces more dental work down the road. Initially, he was taking some pain killers but quit taking them because they made him feel “groggy.”

On the positive side, the goal was career No. 534 for Tkachuk and allowed him to pass Frank Mahovolich and move into 30th place on the NHL’s all-time goal scoring list.

“He can have it,” Tkachuk said, with a ginger smile.

Tkachuk felt good after practice, but said it was too soon to say if he would be in the lineup when the team plays host to Columbus on Tuesday.

***

On the other hand … forward Paul Kariya declared himself ready after practicing with the team. Kariya has been missing since Dec. 27 when he took an elbow to the head in a loss at home to Buffalo. He has eight goals and 11 assists. Kariya liked what he saw on the trip west.

“I thought we were really good in San Jose and Los Angeles -we played a perfect road game, ” Kariya said. “(The Kings) didn’t have much chance to generate offense. We broke them down and then scored some goals in the third period and won the game. We have to bring that kind of game at home.”

***

And on the other, other hand … Andy McDonald did not skate with the team on Monday and looks to be out of the lineup for Tuesday, if not longer. McDonald suffered an injury during the 4-3 win at Los Angeles that coach Davis Payne described as “mid-body.” McDonald appeared to be bothered by something in the hip or stomach area while on the bench in L.A. He played only 9 minutes 22 seconds.

“It’s one of those things we’ll re-assess daily,” Payne said. “It was just something (that happened) along the wall. Nothing in particular in terms of one specific mechanism, but one turn the wrong way and he finds himself in that situation.”

And since we are at home, I'm guessing he skates. I know we need some toughness, but I’m not quite sure how his running into the boards 10 seconds after the player has already vacated the spot helps.

With Crombeen and Winchester already in the line up, I’d rather skate Stasney then Cam.

Monster hits (and monster misses), starts fights, protects players, hometown favorite. Play him.Armstrong on the other hand can sit in the press box. Or better yet stand outside the Scotty and watch one of the TVs through the front windows.

I get to attend tonight, my third this year. Previous games were the 3-1 loss to San Jose and the 4-1 victory (and Perron SuperGoal) over the Isles. For this game I'll average the two to get my prediction: Blues: 2.5 Jackets: 2. Close game. Berglund scores.

_________________Official President of the 2011-2012 Sponsorship Committee of the honorable Alex Pietrangelo

I didn't really mean it to sound like that. I just miss the days when guys like Cam actually brought something to the table and were able to stick up for their teammates and even sometimes get them more ice.

Most of his fights are meaningless, and hell ‘Black-Kid-Dancing’ and the word ‘Noise’ on the jumbo-tron get the crowd going.

I say this as a guy who LOVED TWIST and CHASE, but Janseen serves no purpose when you are trying to win hockey games. The rules have changed, and he's not that good of a goon anyways...he jsut gets a pass because he's a local boy (or maybe you enjoy when he takes his shirt off).

As for being a fan favorite and getting the crowd going……this isn’t the AHL. Win games. That will pack the house and get it rocking.

Cam is ok in his role. You would like your goon to have a little offensive ability like a Donald Brasher who can net around 5 goals and 15 points in a season. I will say this that until recently Cam did a good job being a pest without taking many penalties other than fighting majors.

_________________2009-2010 LGB Official Sponsor of Roman Polak2010-2011 LGB Official Sponsor of the Brad Boyes 2011 2nd round draft pick.2011-2012 LGB Official Sponsor of "The Russian" Evgeny Grachev2013 LGB Official Sponsor of David Perron 2013-2014 LGB Official Sponsor of Jay Bouwmeester

I'm just saying that when cam hits the ice for his 4 minutes you know something is going to go down. A hit, a fight or maybe hell just skate around poorly and hit the boards. I really can't imagine statsny being able to accomplish anything better in Cam's absence for 4-5 minutes of TOI. It's all good though, not trying to be confrontational, I just really doubt Cam or any conceivable replacement has enough influnce to change the outcomes of many games.

And, yes, I love it when he takes his shirt off. That bacne drives me bonkers.

_________________Official President of the 2011-2012 Sponsorship Committee of the honorable Alex Pietrangelo

I am so sick of the anti-janssen propaganda everywhere, all you have to do is listen to the crowd when he is in the game even if he barely hits someone the crowd goes crazy. I will take that over the same production and no crowd reaction we get from Armstrong.

Can I co-sponsor Janssen please? I am sick of the hate.

And Oh yeah, we win

Blues-3 (Janssen x3)Jackets- (Janssen straps on the pads after both goalies go down in the first and after hes scores a hatty, to come in and get a shutout)

Then by all means, if it get all the kids and girls chearing, why not skate that side show act on a line with Louie.....double shift them ev en.

Who needs goals?

I do, this team does, and everyone who paid to see them score goals. I paid to see them win, not to see the "Freak from Eureka"

_________________2009-2010 LGB Official Sponsor of Roman Polak2010-2011 LGB Official Sponsor of the Brad Boyes 2011 2nd round draft pick.2011-2012 LGB Official Sponsor of "The Russian" Evgeny Grachev2013 LGB Official Sponsor of David Perron 2013-2014 LGB Official Sponsor of Jay Bouwmeester

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